Kateland Nicholls

Leading the LEED Volume team at BranchPattern, Katy brings the energy needed for running our at-scale LEED certification program. Her experience and leadership contributes to our clients’ portfolio level ESG achievements. But what truly sets Katy apart is her passion for sharing that expertise—not just as a leader, but as a mentor who’s dedicated to elevating her team and inspiring the next generation of green building professionals.

Katy graduated with a B.A. in Biology & Environmental Science from the University of San Diego in 2004 and was working at the Nature Conservancy when she volunteered for a Green Building Tour for Earth Day in 2005.  Intrigued, she started working for a small commercial TI contractor and got her LEED AP in 2007.  With LEED really gaining ground, she gained experience in LEED for Homes, Building Science testing, and participated in LEED Retail and LEED ND pilot programs.  Following this, Katy segued to the real estate sector, certifying existing office assets under LEED Operations and Maintenance.  Directly prior to joining BranchPattern, Katy worked on a large retail volume portfolio as well as complex institutional projects doing LEED BD+C.  All of this experience over the last 18 years has informed a breadth of experience in the built environment, and Katy has become a process champion for delivering clients' sustainability goals at scale.  

When she’s not navigating sustainability certifications, you might catch Katy singing along to the 90's country, possibly while line dancing, and getting in the water whenever she can for scuba and free diving.  Whether she's exploring new depths or charting new paths in sustainability, Katy's always on the lookout for her next adventure.